Blackwater, Rosario heading towards long-term partnership
Photo courtesy of: PBA Images
Head coach Jeffrey Cariaso says Blackwater and its franchise player Troy Rosario are close to agreeing on a long-term partnership that will keep the PBA veteran in a Bossing uniform for the foreseeable future.
“It’s going well. I can’t divulge information. That’s between us, but Troy is our guy,” Cariaso said during an exclusive interview. “If I can’t make it any more clear, he’s really our guy that we’re building our team around.”
Rosario had a superb 2023-2024 PBA campaign with Blackwater particularly in the All-Filipino Conference where he averaged 17.4 points, 7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists a game while shooting 48% from the field, 37% from deep, and 72% from the foul stripe.
The former UAAP champion with National University has the option to become an unrestricted free agent, but Cariaso believes their current talks with Rosario will progress to a multi-year extension.
“Our goal is really to sign him and to sign him long term,” the head coach stated. “It looks like we are on our way to that. We had really good conversations with him. Again, the idea of him being our future and the team that we’re building around, says something on how we feel about him.”
The Bossing are looking to improve this coming PBA season after barely missing the quarterfinals last conference with a 4-7 slate.
They have the second overall pick in the 2024 PBA Draft taking place on Sunday, July 14. According to Cariaso, Blackwater is looking at options at the guard spot which is why Sedrick Barefield and RJ Abarrientos are suitable candidates, but the team is also looking closely at former Ateneo cager Kai Ballungay to strengthen their depth at the wing.
